A STUDY OF CUSTOMARY JUDGMENT AS A MECHANISM OF SOCIAL CONTROL IN NORTH SINAI GOVERNORATE

The study aimed mainly to explore the customary judgment in the study area from the viewpoint of respondents, identify their personal and social characteristics, and determine barriers faced the local judgment and their suggestions to overcome it. Data were collected from 33 proposed respondents distributed on seven tribes in North Sinai governorate, using questionnaire form during May 2010. Frequencies, percentages, and average were used for data display. Findings show that about one third of respondents are illiterate, 81.8% of them are located in the category of high leadership, and 72.7% of them are highly exposed. The most important criteria of the selection of customary judges are heredity, biography, and social status. The main sanctions imposed by local judges are fines (camels), oath, and compensation. The most important obstacles facing customary judgment are the highly expenses incurred by the judges in the transition to conflect place and communication, with weak financial potential of some judges, and relying on the judicial wisdom and sideburns only without reference to the experienced people, especially in the emerging issues on the Sinai community